Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-11-24

partaker of all the good things that
Paula with her money would be able to
procure.
In the meantime Paula was lying back
in the American chair muslng. Present
ly she lifted the letter with the closely
written four pages, and went once more
over the we'll known lines. AS she read
her eyes darkened and softened with a
tender light, and the droop at the corner
of her mouth became less marked.
At the end she laid it IN her lap, and
without changing her position, read the
| other letter. The reading took the love-
light out of her eyes and brought back
covetous CLEAN which shone like bright
steel through her thick lashes.
Then she spoke to herself in low tone.
(Which is 1t to be? Love or money?
And I must decide tomorrow. Charlie
and his G300 year-and-the $780, 0O."
The next morning, when Paula came
down rather late TO breakfast, she found
her mother busily reading very long
and closely written letter whilst uttering
grunts of strong disapproval.
'sWhat is the matter?" asked Paula, sit
| ting listlessly down at the table, and lazily
| buttering her toast.
"Why, I have just had letter from
\
to take her in for few days. She wants
to do some shopping, or make some calls,
or something of the kind, and our house
is convenient, SO she says. should have
| thought, too far from town. But then
she has her own carriage, or hires one,
and we shall not see much of her, that Is
| one comfort. ] wonder she does not go
| to her relations. She has plenty of Them"
aPossibly she is afraid" said Paula Ian
guidly. "She is 80 alarmingly rich, she
might think it too much of temptation
to her dear relations to stay with them"
paula, you are ridiculous, and you
have such strange notions for so young
girl. It is really very impolitic to talk In
the way you do. However, Pm too busy
to scold now
''For small mercies let us be grateful"
murmured Paula.
''Miss Price may be here at any mo-
ment, and I must see about her room,"
and Mrs. Grenvble hustled out of the
room.
! Half an hour afterward there was a
meek little rap at the street door. In a
few minutes Miss Price and her compan-
ion were ushered into the room.
Miss Price was little thin old lady of
over so years old. She wore her light
hair, which was streaked with gray, in
tiny little curls on each side of her
cheeks. Her face was little and shrunk-
en-, her figure pinched and small, her
hands and feet small. But the worst thing
about her was the utterly careworn and
miserable ex preston of her face. A list
less wretchedness bad, as it were, eaten
itself into her withered cOuntenance, and
was shown in every gesture of her knotted,
veined hands and boned neck.
"And yet she has four Thousand year,"
said Paula to herself.
Miss Price appeared in mortal dread of
her ompanion, and yet totally unable to
do without her. Mrs. Mount tyrannized
over her in the most shamefaced manner,
and poor Miss Price submitted meekly
in the listless, hopeless way her face be-
trayed.
''Will there ever be time when COM
, panion will be necessary to my well be-
ing?" thought Paula.
The next morning was fine, and Miss
I Price elected to do her shopping. A car
riage was ordered, for Miss Price was not
strong. and the rattle and noise of omni-
buses did not agree with her. But she
grumbled at the ex pense, and feared she
was running herself. Paula and Mrs.
Mount accompanied her. And what a
dresses, but nothing suited her. The
cheap ones were too common, and the bet
ter ones too expensive. Her unhappy face
was bent over the goods, comparing them,
finding fault now with the color, now with
the texture, but generally with the Price.
Finally she chose an expensive silk and
some brown cashmere, and her face look
ed more miserable still after she he'd
paid the bill. And then to the milliers
and the same scene enacted over again.
Paula watched, as III dream, the pretty,
tasteful bonnets changed, as if by magic,
into dowdy common place constructions
as soon as they surrounded Miss Prices
discontinued old face. It seemed to oc-
cur to Miss Price also that it did not mat
ter much which she chose, for she kept
her face turned resolutely from the mir
rors, and deferred at last to Mrs. Mounts
Judgment. Paula shuddered as she
thought that she might come to just such
an un pleasant old age. To be dependent
on the taste of a companion for the selec-
ton of ones clothes To look so wretch
ed and woe BECOME as to come to shun
the sight of ones own oountenance!
| Paula was thoughtful that evening and
very silent. Mrs. GrenobIe told her it
was time, full time, to send an answer to
the letters. Paula said she would write
them tomorrow before breakfast. Her
mother said, of course, there was no
doubt as to her choice. No child blessed
with such mother as she had to advise
her, would hesitate moment. Paula an
swered that the advent of Miss Price had
left no doubt in her mind as to which
course she would pursue. Her mother
looked at her doubtfully as she made this
last remark, citing her bedroom candle
meanwhile, but Paula gave proaigious
yawn, which entirely destroyed any ex-
| preston her face might have possessed
at the time, and vanished from the room.
When Paula reached her bedroom she
placed her candle on the toilet table, and,
sitting down with her elbows on the ia
bic and her cheeks resting IN her two
hands, calmly surveyed her reflection in
| the glass. 1t was certainly pleasant to
look upon, with It's piles of chestnut hair
browning the pale oval face and its
steady, clear eyes shining in the dim
| light. But as she looked Paula, as
through mist, seemed to see the ches-